A holiday with a difference

Students taking sewing lessons at PAU’s ‘Holiday School’

Sixteen-year-olds Maria Raka (right) from Laloki High School and Grace Apana from Badihagwa Technical Secondary School busy sewing away at PAU’s ‘Holiday School’

Friday, July 10, draws to a close the groundbreaking ‘Holiday School’ programme run by the School of Education at Pacific Adventist University’s Koiari Park Campus at 14-Mile outside Port Moresby.
The holiday School has transformed normal university classrooms into a school for approximately 200 grade 10 students from various schools in the Port Moresby area.
“The timing of the holiday school has been an excellent opportunity both for the pupils and the practice teachers,” says Dr Jillian Thiele, dean of the school of education and holiday school ‘principal’.
“The holiday school has meant that our students have been able to experience a wide range of situations in a controlled environment, and the Grade 10 pupils have had the opportunity to get additional professional tutoring in preparation for the national
Year 10 exams.”
Enthusiastic students told me that they had enjoyed every moment at PAU’s picturesque campus and it was a welcome change from their normal classrooms.
“We’ve been learning science, social science, English and maths,” said Ishmael Nigints from De La Salle High School, Bomana.
“There are also optional subjects like IT, sewing and cooking.
“I’ve enjoyed it very much, I have learnt a lot, and it’s very interesting.
“At De La Salle, there are only boys, but here, there are girls, so it’s a new experience for some of us.
“And also, the environment here is very beautiful.”
Dr Thiele said the topic focus areas for the holiday school had been identified and managed in conjunction with a number of high school teachers and principals in the NCD region.
“As a result,” she said, “the holiday school is targeting areas that teachers have identified as common weak areas.
“Additionally, because the holiday school is being held on the PAU campus – school
pupils and teacher trainees have direct access to the university’s specialist lecturers in the
various content areas.
“The programme would not have been the success that it is without the assistance and support of the NCD governor, Powes Parkop, who has assisted the holiday school with bus transport to all NCD students from the NCD region to Pacific Adventist University for the holiday school.
“The programme this year is considered a great success and PAU wishes all of the participants the best for the upcoming national exams.”
PAU is a tertiary institution owned and operated by the Seventh Day Adventist Church, offering diploma, bachelor and post-graduate awards in a range of disciplines.
PAU is located at Koiari Park, at 14-Mile outside Port Moresby, with affiliate campuses
Fulton (Suva, Fiji) and Sonoma College in East New Britain province.

Bulolo thanks outgoing US envoy

Bulolo MP Sam Basil ties a traditional headdress on outgoing US Ambassador Lesley Rowe

People of Bulolo, Morobe province, on Thursday, July 09, 2009 presented gifts to outgoing US Ambassador to Papua New Guinea Lesley Rowe.
The gifts – bilums, a headdress and a spear – were presented to Ms Rowe by Bulolo MP, Sam Basil, who earlier this year witnessed the swearing in of Barrack Obama as 44th US president at the invitation of the US government.
Ms Rowe told Mr Basil that she was so glad that he had been able to travel to the US and witness the historical transition of power.
“It was a historical time,” she said.
“I’m glad we got you (to travel to the US) when you were young.”
Mr Basil thanked Ms Rowe on behalf of his fellow Buang villagers, people of Bulolo and Papua New Guinea for the last three years she had spent in the country.

Return of the 39th Battalion 'chocolate soldiers'

Peter Holloway (left) and Harry Barkla at McDonald's Corner

Harry Barkla makes a point of history to Aaron Hayes of Ectourism Melanesia

Harry Barkla and Peter Holloway meet Australian trekkers at Owers' CornerEnthusiastic trekkers meet 39th Battalion veterans Harry Barkla and Peter Holloway

Australian trekkers surround 39th Battalion veterans Harry Barkla and Peter Holloway at Owers' Corner

Australian trekkers line up to meet Harry Barkla and Peter Holloway at Owers' Corner last Sunday

Peter Holloway autographs a book for an Australian trekker as Harry Barkla looks on

Harry Barkla signs an autograph for an adoring Australian trekker

Harry Barkla spent his 21st birthday sitting in a foxhole on the Kokoda Trail before all hell broke loose at the Battle of Isurava in August 1942.
The 87-year-old from Bendigo, Victoria, has returned to Papua New Guinea for the second time since 2007 with another Australian World War 11 veteran Peter Holloway to mark 67 years since the battle and to remember lost mates.
Both are members of the legendary 39th Battalion – so wrongly disparaged as “chocolate soldiers” - who fought the Japanese in the now-famous Battle of Isurava in August 1942.
I was privileged to be asked by tourism operator Ecotourism Melanesia to be their tour guide last Sunday as well interview them, given my interest in WW11 history.
It was an emotional moment for both men as we visited the site of the old Schwimmer Drome at Laloki, Owers’ Corner, MacDonald’s Corner, the wreck of the mv MacDhui, the site of the Jackson Airfield (now International Airport), and Bootless Bay, among others.
One of the most-touching moments was when a group of young Australian trekkers arrived at Owers’ Corner after the grueling 96km trek from Kokoda, and when they learned that Mr Barkla and Mr Holloway were original members of the 39th Battalion, they were treated like royalty and swamped for autographs.
“We did it for you,” the two veterans humbly told the admiring trekkers.
An increasing number of Australians and Papua New Guineans are just now beginning to learn the tremendous story of courage and tenacity at Isurava, but it is hoped that more will take the time to learn about it
During the period from 27-30 August 1942, under almost constant attack, soldiers of the 39th Australian Militia Battalion and the 2/14th Battalion, Second Australian Imperial Force, with the help of the 2/16th Battalion and the 53rd Battalions, held back the advancing Japanese at Isurava.
What followed was the famous fighting withdrawal down the Kokoda Track during September 1942, which ended with the Australian dig-in on Imita Ridge on September 17, 1942.
From Imita, there was no further retreat.
On September 28, the Japanese began their withdrawal back across the Owen Stanleys along the Kokoda Track, having come within sight of the sea and the lights of Port Moresby on Ioribaiwa Ridge opposite Imita.
Ironically, the militia men of the 39th Battalion were initially disparaged by more-experienced soldiers as “chocolate soldiers” who would melt in the heat of battle, but proved this tag so wrong at Isurava.
“I celebrated my 21st birthday at Isurava on August 22, 1942,” Mr Barkla told me
“The Japs didn’t attack until August 28, which was when the 2/14th (Battalion) arrived.
“I’m very proud of the 39th Battalion for the job they did against terrific odds.
“Ask any member of the 39th Battalion and he’ll tell you he’s a very proud man.”
The other 39th Battalion veteran, Peter Holloway from Melbourne, did not fight on Kokoda, initially being involved in supplying food to troops, but did see action on the Northern Beaches of Buna, Gona and Sanananda (which he visited this week).
More Australians – about 1,400 in all – were killed in Buna, Gona and Sanananda than Kokoda, where about 500 were killed.
“I was part of that campaign,” Mr Holloway recalled.
“The significant part was when we could walk on the beach at Sanananda.
“I celebrated my 21st birthday in Port Moresby on February 19, 1942, the day the Port Moresby Hotel was bombed by the Japanese.”
Mr Holloway said Australians owed Papua New Guineans a great deal for their help during WW11.
“We had great assistance from the indigenous people,” he said.
“A lot of our people would have been dead if it hadn’t been for them.
“I think they’ve had a rough deal from the Australian government since the end of the war.”
Among the fascinating yarns Mr Barkla and Mr Holloway shared was that Mr Barkla was working on the mv Macdhui on June 17, 1942, the day before it was bombed and sunk by Japanese planes, while Mr Holloway was supposed to have been working on it on the actual day of the bombing but was sick
Five of their 39th Battalion mates were killed together with 10 crew members of the ship.
They also served at Jacksons Airfield and remember the numerous Japanese air raids.
Jackson Airfield was named after Australian ace pilot John Jackson, leader of RAAF Squadron 75, who was killed in a dogfight against Japanese planes over Port Moresby on April 28, 1942.
“The very first day he (Jackson) was here, he shot a Japanese Kawasaki aircraft,” Mr Holloway said.
“He shot down quite a number of Japanese aircraft.
“He had quite a number of Japanese aircraft painted on the side of his aircraft, for every one of them that he shot down.
“On April 25, 1942, which was Anzac Day, we were at the back of the hill and New Guinea Anglican Bishop, Philip Strong, was conducting a service when the Japanese attacked.
“We all ducked for cover but he remained and continued to conduct the service
Mr Barkla and Mr Holloway were based on the hill overlooking the airfield, at what is now the PNG Defence Force’s Air Transport Wing staff quarters.
They also spent time at Bootless Bay keeping an eye for Japanese aircraft.
Both men could reminisce on and on about their WW11 days, however, time caught up and they had to leave for Popondetta.
I asked them why they were called “chocolate soldiers”.
“They said we weren’t fulltime soldiers, that we were part-time soldiers,” Mr Holloway replied.
“They said when the heat of battle was on, we would melt, but we didn’t.
“Australia had two armies, the Australian Imperial Forces, and the Australian Military Forces.
“The ‘chocos (Chocolate Soldiers)’ were part of that.
“Every member of the 39th Battalion was a volunteer.
“Most of the 39th Battalion eventually joined the AIF.
“They never called us ‘chocolate soldiers’ after the New Guinea Campaign.
“When we fought together, side-by-side, they changed that opinion.
“The 2/14th will tell you that if it hadn’t been for the 39th Battalion, they would have been annihilated.”

Interesting photo

 John Dege Waure trekking the South Simbu road a couple of days before his 14th birthday during his school term break. 

 In the background is the Whagi River separating Mt Wikauma to his right and Gunangi Basis to his left.

Gumine High School can be seen at the foot of Mt Wikauma.

Picture by Martin Mintai Waure

 

 

 

Pictures of Pacific Adventist University

I visited Pacific Adventist University at 14-Mile outside Port Moresby today and took these shots.
It's a great place to visit, especially for the avid birdwatcher, and I highly recommend it for any visitor to Port Moresby as well as residents of the Papua New Guinea capital.

Latest pictures of my cucumber garden

And for you keen followers of this blog who have been monitoring the adventures of my, my kids and our cucumber garden, I'm pleased to report that it's growing bigger and bigger every day.
The plants are flowering and we're all eagerly looking forward to our first harvest.
Above are pictures of the cucumber patch as well as my two keen gardeners, two-year-old Keith and his four-year-old sister Moasing.

Complex international factors force up July fuel prices

Increased international demand for refined fuels has forced up domestic fuel prices throughout Papua New Guinea.

InterOil President Bill Jasper says the increased demand is being spurred by a number of complex factors.

“Perceptions that Europe and the United States may emerge from recession later this year is a significant factor,” he said.

“So too are the needs of the fuel thirsty Chinese economy, which continues to grow despite the worldwide financial crisis.

“Added to this is the disruption to supply from key African oil fields due to political and civil instability.

“During the past month, crude oil reached a year high price of more than $US73 a barrel.

“Basically overseas markets are driven by perceptions of future demand and supply.

“We are part of the international oil-consuming community and as such we are not immune from the powerful forces at play.”

Locally, refined fuels will cost more this month in line with movements in the international marketplace.

The pump price of gasoline (ULP) is up by about 4 %.

Diesel and kerosene have increased by six and seven percent respectively.

Mr Jasper said despite recent increases, refined fuels are significantly cheaper now than they were at this time last year.

“UPL is about a third cheaper than what it was mid-way through 2008,” he said.

“The current retail price of diesel and kerosene is about half of what it was at the peak.

“Fuels are now more affordable for our many Government, commercial and private customers than they were a year ago.”

 

For further information and to arrange media interviews contact:

Susuve Laumaea

Senior Manager Media Relations InterOil Corporation

Ph: (675) 321 7040

Mobile: (675) 684 5168

Email: susuve.laumaea@interoil.com